Eldora, Gateway, New Hampshire return to NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2014

ROSSBURG, OH - JULY 24: Ken Schrader, driver of the #52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota, leads the field as they line up four wide during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ROSSBURG, OH - JULY 24:  Ken Schrader, driver of the #52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota, leads the field as they line up four wide during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013 in Rossburg, Ohio.  (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ROSSBURG, OH – JULY 24: Ken Schrader, driver of the #52 Federated Auto Parts Toyota, leads the field as they line up four wide during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series inaugural CarCash Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway on July 24, 2013 in Rossburg, Ohio. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

A return to a pair of tracks absent for several years and a repeat date on the dirt at Eldora Speedway highlight the 22-race NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule for 2014.

Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis, which hosted series races from 1998-2010 with only one repeat winner in its 13-race history, will hold its 2014 race on June 14. The 1.25-mile oval is independently owned by St. Louis native Curtis Francois.

After a two-year hiatus, New Hampshire Motor Speedway likewise returns to the schedule on Sept. 20. The 1.058-mile oval held truck racing from 1996-2011. It is back as part of a companion weekend during the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

“We’re excited to have the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series return to Gateway and to the St. Louis area, which is such a racing hotbed,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR senior vice president of racing operations. “With the return to New Hampshire, it will be great for fans to see more of what the trucks are known for – close racing at shorter, tighter venues.”

In 2013, Eldora, the 0.5-mile dirt track owned by three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart held the first NASCAR national series dirt race since 1970. A standing-room only crowd of 20,000 fans watched history as 2011 series championship Austin Dillon captured the victory.

Also returning after a wildly successful debut in 2013 is the Canadian Tire Motorsports Park road course – where the series made its first international appearance. A wild, final lap battle saw Chase Elliott – son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Bill Elliott, win the event.

Next season’s schedule features one date shift, with the series racing at Kansas Speedway on May 9, the first night race for the series at the 1.5-mile track. Iowa Speedway, which staged two races this season, will host a single, stand-alone event on July 12.

The balance of the series’ 20th season mirrors that of 2013 – opening with Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 21 and ending on Nov. 14 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

2014 NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES SCHEDULE

Date                 Site

Feb. 21        Daytona International Speedway

March 29    Martinsville Speedway

May 9        Kansas Speedway

May 16        Charlotte Motor Speedway

May 30        Dover International Speedway

June 6        Texas Motor Speedway

June 14        Gateway Motorsports Park

June 26        Kentucky Speedway

July 12        Iowa Speedway

July 23        Eldora Speedway

Aug. 2        Pocono Raceway

Aug.16        Michigan International Speedway

Aug. 20        Bristol Motor Speedway

Aug. 31        Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Sept. 12    Chicagoland Speedway

Sept. 20    New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Sept. 27    Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Oct. 18        Talladega Superspeedway

Oct. 25        Martinsville Speedway

Oct. 31        Texas Motor Speedway

Nov. 7        Phoenix International Raceway

Nov. 14        Homestead-Miami Speedway

Greg Engle
About Greg Engle 7421 Articles
Greg is a published award winning sportswriter who spent 23 years combined active and active reserve military service, much of that in and around the Special Operations community. Greg is the author of "The Nuts and Bolts of NASCAR: The Definitive Viewers' Guide to Big-Time Stock Car Auto Racing" and has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.